New oxygen masks could save dogs' lives

A P.E.I. businesswoman has donated specially designed oxygen masks to all of the Island's fire departments for the rescue of dogs suffering from smoke inhalation.

Susan Buote, owner of Invisible Fence Pet Containment in Charlottetown, donated the masks. While designed for dogs, they come in three different sizes and can be used for other animals as well.

In all, Buote donated 39 masks, one for each of 38 stations and one more for training.

Last year, a dog that died in a fire was the subject of what may have been P.E.I.'s first public funeral for a dog. Nguyen Thanh credited his dog Rocky with saving his family after a fire broke out in the night that destroyed a row of Charlottetown buildings. While Rocky's barking woke the family, the dog did not survive the fire.

"Rocky saved my life," said Nguyen, "so he's my No. 1 hero.

Fire marshal David Blacquiere said regular oxygen masks have been used in the past, but they don't always work.

"I can recall as many as 15 different incidents where a dog was in distress because of the smoke inhalation and firefighters had to attempt to save them by using their own mask," said Blacquiere.

"Sometimes they were successful; other times we had to walk away from it."

Island firefighters are happy to receive the mask. North Rustico Fire Chief Jamie Gauthier said they could come in many situations.

"I wasn't even aware that such a product existed, and I think it's a great thing," said Gauthier.

"We had a situation last year, not a fire but actually an ice rescue involving animals, where this new product would have been a great help to us."

The masks will be delivered to fire departments on Sunday.